THE EPITOME OF EXCELLENCE

Katara Group continues in its quest to bring augmented quality to iconic properties

Katara Group recently announced the unveiling of the remodelled Royal Savoy Lausanne, a Murwab Hotel. We asked Hamad Abdulla Al-Mulla, CEO of Katara Hospitality, what the key elements are that make this a great place to stay…

Royal Savoy Lausanne, Switzerland – a Murwab Hotel

Dating from 1909, Royal Savoy Lausanne, a Murwab Hotel has added to the lustre of Lausanne’s fame as a refuge for royalty and aristocrats from around the world. The legendary hotel features 196 rooms and suites, business facilities, an exclusive terrace restaurant, lobby lounge, cigar lounge, a Sky Terrace on the roof with its unique 360° panoramic view and an extensive spa area. The historic building in the Grand Château style has a 5,000 sqm park, situated between the new and historical buildings, and is an incomparable oasis of tranquillity, right in the heart of the city.

There are some other extremely interesting projects in the pipeline – in Doha and in Singapore. Please tell us more!

At an international level, one of our most luxurious hotels, awarded on countless occasions for its legendary levels of service, an icon that is an intoxicating blend of indulgence, history and colonial design, is Raffles Hotel Singapore built in 1887. This flagship property of Raffles Hotels & Resorts will embark on a restoration programme, starting January 2017.

WE HAVE STAYED TRUE TO OUR STRATEGY OF INVESTING IN TRUE ICONS THAT REPRESENT HERITAGE AND PURE LUXURY.

Another core area of focus for Katara Hospitality is the refurbishment and upgrade of our existing Doha portfolio. Sealine Beach, a Murwab Resort will see the addition of 18 new villas. Further, a phased renovation of the rooms, spa, lobby and restaurants is well underway at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha to be completed by 2017.

What made Katara Hospitality make the move to become an international company and how hard/easy was it to achieve this?

Katara Hospitality is increasingly recognised as a leading player in the international hospitality industry. Our successes over the years – in hotel investment, development and operations – have propelled the organisation into the global spotlight and the Katara Hospitality brand is now increasingly associated with excellence in hospitality development. Growing the business for any company is a key priority and the next natural step for us was to step into key international locations. Expanding internationally is no easy feat, but throughout the process of expansion, we have stayed true to our strategy of investing in true icons that represent heritage and pure luxury.